Below are some generic World War II Images that I’ve collected over the years from eBay sales, defunct websites, forums, etc. Some of them might be closer to WW1, the Interwar Period, or the early 1940s.
Maybe someday I’ll go through them and cull and organize but for now, I’ve just added them into a big gallery below.
One day, I hope to write a book on the US Involvement in the Persian Gulf during WWII. I think there are some good Persian and Russian sources that could be utilized, and technology exists to potentially access them and translate them efficiently.
In the meantime, I’ll keep a running tab of resources.
US Army Lanterns in World War Two were produced by Coleman (and probably others) and came in a green color. The images below show a few examples of it, including an unissued one in the original packing material –
There is also a Lantern Gasoline Leaded Fuel, QM 8-Misc 1 quartermaster supply catalog dated Jan 1945 that outlines the spare parts for the unit.
And the Technical Bulletin TB QM-47 June 1945 that explains how to operate and maintain the lantern.
This is in contrast to what is a post-war model, where the lantern is painted olive drab
There also existed a smaller lantern that would go inside a Lantern Chest. These smaller lanterns ran on Kerosene rather than gasoline.
Shown on the left is a pair of Model 1910 wire cutters with a pouch dated 1918. The metal jaws are marked “U.S.”, and “5000-V” is molded into the rubber handle. These cutters were dual-purpose tools, featuring a wire-cutting slot as well as serrated jaws that allowed them to be used as pliers.
On the right is a pair of M-1938 wire cutters, stamped “U.S., HKP, 1944.” Unlike the Model 1910 cutters, the M-1938 functioned solely as wire cutters. Accompanying them are two pouches: a light olive drab pouch dated 1942 on the left and a dark olive drab pouch dated 1944 on the right.
Shown on the left is an undated USM pouch designed for the standard M-1938 wire cutters, used during the early years of World War II.
The cutters on the far right are stamped “USMC 1944.” The purpose of their enlarged head is uncertain, though it may have been intended to provide additional strength. The cutting blade is sharpened along only half of its length, with the remaining portion being serrated.
The pouch to the left of these cutters is dated 1944, while the pouch on the right is British-manufactured and dated 1945
Early in January 1944 it was established that razor blades had been used as an anti-sniper device in action against the Japanese. The insertion of several blades in trees which were likely to be used by enemy snipers provided an effective means of preventing these snipers from taking position in these trees after infiltrating through the lines at night.
Initially, investigation was made toward the possibility of utilizing tools similar to stapling tools and glazier’s point driving tools to accomplish the desired results. However, it was found that a fully automatic device based on such designs would be entirely too heavy.
Further investigation and development resulted in the following described types of blade-driving hammers:
a. Hammer, Blade Driving, T1
A wood handle with a metal head which holds a triangular-shaped blade. Individual blades are inserted into trees by swinging the device in a manner similar to using a regular hammer. This item was developed by the Magazine Repeating Razor Company (Fig. 210).
b. Hammer, Blade Driving, T2
A metal handle with a metal head containing a magazine and feeding device. A single “T”-shaped blade is inserted into the tree with each stroke of the hammer head, the device recocking itself with each backward stroke. This item weighs 13½ pounds and was developed by the International Staple and Machine Company (Figs. 211 and 212).
c. Hammer, Blade Driving, T3
A brass handle with a steel head containing a blade magazine. This device is semi-automatic in operation and is hand cocked each time it is desired to drive a blade into a tree. This item was also developed by the International Staple and Machine Company (fig. 213).
The T3 Blade Driving Hammer together with the specially designed blades were submitted in turn to Headquarters, Army Ground Forces and the U.S. Marine Corps who indicated that mechanical means were not required to accomplish the desired results and recommended that no further development be undertaken.
Below are some pictures from my personal archive of personal effects of soldiers in WW2. The Timelife ones are, I think, taken from airmen who perished during their mission.
The Timelife ones are, I think, taken from airmen who perished during their mission.
Bracelets – This is taken from an old eBay listing of the 88th Infantry Division, 351st Regiment. Made of maybe aluminum. Shows a timeline of their service in Italy.
Footlocker images –
There’s often been a discussion of weight as it pertains to soldiers in WW2. The US Army had height and weight requirements, but I suspect wartime demands may have overlooked them for certain situations.
Indeed, the US Army had a set of Mobilization Regulations No 1-9 created in Aug 1940 that set physical standards –
They then changed it in April 1944, which set physical standards but the height and weight requirements don’t seem to have changed.
You can download a few more physical standard PDFs here in this zip file
Arguably, I think you’d be in a tough position to prove that an exceptionally tall or exceptionally overweight soldier would be on the front line in a foxhole. However, there’s enough evidence that such soldiers did fight in WW2, but likely in a rear or support position.
Indeed, there are a few publications that created humorous cartoons alluding to this fact (especially with the Navy).
Cpl Edward Young of the Nergo Port Battalion in Hawaii is probably the heaviest African-American, weighing in at 330 pounds.
S/Sgt August Stackwell from the Air Base Squadron in March Field, CA, is likely the heaviest white soldier, weighing in at 407 pounds.
Yank Magazine also profiled a few persons and collected nominations for who the heaviest soldiers are.
Below are some images that highlight that fact.
When I first started reenacting, this was the unit my friends and I decided to reenact. It was a draftee division made up of average Americans, and we thought it fitting. Over the years, I’ve collected lots of information related to this unit, and I’ll be putting it here.
We were featured in a veterans newsletter (Modern Day Reenactors Honor BlueDevil Accomplishments) and I also had the opportunity to correspond with a few 88th Veterans: Carlos Cordova, Frederic Lincoln, Bob Wells, Leonard J. Dziabas, John Mezinarch, Thomas O Kinney, and Donald Zucker. I also worked with James Brindy and helped edit his diary: Echoes of War: The Memoirs of a 976th and 913th Field Artillery Battalion Wireman in Italy during World War II.
The 88th Infantry Division Archive has more historical resources available.
As well as the 88th Infantry Division Archive.com Discussion Group on Facebook.
The 88th Infantry Division fought
Some Notes I have
31st US Infantry Division: 88th regarded as its personal enemy (since LA maneuvers)
US Units in Italy with 88th: 85th, 91st, 9th, 1st 3rd, 36th, 45th, 10th Mt, 92nd, British 5th Division, French Corps were under General Alphonse Juin, Brazilina Expeditionary Force, 6th South-Africans and British 1st Division which was with 88th for Gothic Line Assualt.
The 7th Army was formed for the invasion of Southern France: Units were 3rd, 36th, 45th Divisions.
The 103rd Infantry Division met the 88th a few miles south of Brenner Pass
Was part of II Corps: 88th, 85th, 3rd Infantry and 1st Special Service Force. Was part of 5th Army
88th Recon Troop first in Rome, July 4th 0715hrs
Rome Area Allied Command GI Restaurant served meatloaf, string beans, asparagus, salad, bread/butter, and coffee.
Bluedevil Rest Center was in Montecatini and consisted of 3 hotels. It was located in Tuscany, 20 miles northwest of Florence. It is situated on the Autostrada that connects Florence to Pisa, just west of Pistoia. Today the highway is A11. Before the war, it was a spa.
The rest center was home to the Trianon Theater. The theater did 2 performances a night, and could hold 1,000 men. Drinks were 30 cents for rum, whiskey, and cognac, and the bottle sold champagne. Fights broke out just about every night between the Red Bulls (34th), Pine Trees (?) and, of course, the Bluedevils. Soldiers could buy knick-knacks, vino, and roasted chestnuts from various civilians while relaxing in Montecatini.
The Fifth Army Red Cross set up “The Tent Club” and soon had one of the best clubs operating. The best attraction of the club was the ‘Jitterbug Queen” Mississippi (Ann Jenkins of Alabama).
(PO VALLEY CAMPAIGN)
(Personal Experience of an Engineer Platoon Leader)
2nd Batt 349th 88th Inf 15-24 Apr 1945 Breakout to Po River – Battalion on the Attack
350th Company A Personal Experience of a Company Commander Feb 1944 – Night Patrol to capture prisoners
Country Boy Infantry: Bluedevils 88th Infantry, 1944-1945 by Carey E. Ashcroft. Yellow Springs, OH: Keahey Graphics, 1997. – Images are taken from that book. Consists of a narrative of the 350th Cannon Company.
The book be hard to find/out of print?
The Anti-Tank Company 350th Infantry and the Po Valley Battle – A short history of that company’s involvement in the battle. Includes a roster.
First Combat Unknown source 88th Infantry 350th Division Company E – Probably writen by the company commander or a LT.
350th Infantry Battle Mountain in Occupation – About their TRUST experiences.
2nd Lt Clyde William Morrison Jr, Co M 351st Infantry Regiment – Diary account of time in service. Includes a few Heave Ho scanned publications at the end. Heave Ho was a publication made either by the soldiers on the ship or the navy personnel to help pass the time on the voyage back to the States. A few racy and nude drawings are included.
1st Lt Frederick J. Kraics 351st Regiment Co H 2nd BN, Interview – He was a machine gunner in charge of 4 machine guns.
351st Santa Maria Infante Small Unit Actions May 1944 – About the battle for Santa Maria Infante
Leonard J. Dziabas, H Company, 351st Infantry Regiment – This is some personal correspondence I had with him back in 2003. He’s been featured in a few documentaries and other interviews, such as this Witness to War one.
351st S-2 Journal Oct 23rd and 24th 1944 – A neat example of a probable radio operator (though it could be wire!) listening to radio traffic and transcribing it. This is probably at the regimental level as the regiment is communicating with different battalions (white and blue).
Fr means from, and To means to.
I’m unsure who Seagull and Sunray are.
351st 3rd Battalion Bulletin from March 26th and 27th 1944 – Looks like some kind of battalion-level news sheet. A partial copy.
What’s hilarious is that someone obviously asked about getting pin-ups, and it has to be explicitly mentioned that “the battalion does not anticipate reproducing pin-ups.”
351st Santa Maria Infante Attack Route Maps and images – a zip file containing a historical map analysis of the attack routes as well as images of the roads and ruins around Santa Maria Infante.
351st Oct 24th 1944 Daily S-4 Report to G-4 by Maj William H Klein – a status report of needed supplies and units.
913rd Field Artillery Battalion – 88th Infantry Division attached field artillery
My YouTube Interview with James Brindy a 976th and 913th Field Artillery Battalion Wireman in Italy during World War II.
The BlueDevils Come Home – A three part series that interviews several BlueDevils about their stories. Part 2 and Part 3
Muzzle Flash – a report from a field artillery unit in Italy and in Europe. I’m unsure if it was or wasn’t with the 88th.
88th Infantry Division in WW2: A Case Study of Combat Performance Excellence by Col Dupuy and Gay Hammerman 1987 – Take from Military Review
88th Infantry Division Stats Document – A general document to give an idea of what I think might be a shipment of soldiers coming into the unit. The idea is to get a handle on who they are.
It may go with: Enlisted Personnel Replacement Requisition WD AGO Form 210 May 1942.
These are just some images I’ve collected over the years. These are all expected to be images of the 88th Veterans or original 88th Infantry Division WW2 era photos.
The ring is a vintage WWII 88th Infantry Division, the Blue Devil Division Men’s Ring. Marked on the inside SILVER 800″ and marked around the outside “BLUE DEVIL DIVISION” along the edge of the ring. The ring is worn but not too worn. It is approximately a man’s size 9 1/2-10. The face of the ring is 1/2″ square. and it weighs 12.2 g. Marked 800 Silver, so I’m guessing it was made in Italy during the occupation.
Not sure how I got these, but I don’t know much about them. I assume they’re probably late war or immediate post-war in Europe.
The Battle Mountain photos were taken by a fellow history buff in the early 2000s.
Images come from: United States Army in World War II Pictorial Record, The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas. Office of the Chief of Military History, Dept. of the Army. Washington D.C., 1951
This post will just be a collection of information I have about World War Two Italian Partisan uniforms, equipment, etc.
8th Garibaldi Brigade uniform https://www.kubel1943.it/dettaglio.php?id=1732
This is just a collection of audio broadcasts that I have.
Blood on the Risers – A song about the US Airborne sung to the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
82nd Airborne Division Chorus Glider Rider -“Glider Rider” A tribute song by the 82nd Airborne Chorus to those soldiers who rode in gliders into battle.
1942 Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
World Series 1942: New York Yankees vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game 1
1943 All-Star Baseball Game: National League vs American League
World Series 1943: St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Yankees Game 1
World Series: New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers Game 2
World Series 1943: St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Yankees Game 4
World Series 1943: St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Yankees Game 5
1944 World Series: St. Louis Browns vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game 4
1944 World Series: St. Louis Browns vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game 5
1944 World Series: St. Louis Browns vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game 6
Dec 1944 Army Cadets vs. Navy Midshipmen
Oct 1944 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Nov 1944 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Army Cadets
Dec 1944 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets
Jan 1945 East-West Shrine Game 1945 – 1945 East-West Shrine, a post-season college football game featuring players from schools in the Eastern half of the United States against players from schools in the Western part.
Feb 1945 Sugar Ray Robinson v. Jake LaMotta 1945 Fight
March 1942 Baseball during World War II – A discussion on whether or not Major League Baseball should be discontinued until after World War II.
An Archive.org selection from: 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 |
Another Archive.org selection from: 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 |
Axis Sally Broadcast – I’m not sure which one, but it takes place in 1943.
